Pararajasingham protests over new abductions

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham TULF MP for Batticaloa district protested against the abduction of Tamil youth in Batticaloa by unidentified members of the Sri Lankan security forces and Tamil paramilitary groups in a fax to the Deputy Minister for Defence Mr. Anuruddha Ratwatte.

Three youths were abducted yesterday at 10.30 a.m. at the Chenkalady junction, 16 kilometers north of Batticaloa by persons in civilian clothes in a blue Mitsubishi Pajero he said.

The youth were identified as Yogan and Kandavanan Anandasegar of Vanthaarumoolai and Moorthy of Pankudavely.

The MP said in his fax: "The inhuman culture of picking up Tamil youths by persons in civilian clothes coming in private vehicles has re-emerged in Batticaloa which is causing alarm and fear among the peace loving people of Batticaloa."

"There have been several such incidents brought to my notice during the past one month. In some cases it was found that the security forces were responsible for such action. This illegitimate arbitrary act of picking up Tamil youth by persons in civilian clothes coming in white Hiace Vans were rampant four years back. But it is unfortunate this inhuman culture has re-emerged in the past one month in the Batticaloa district which is of great concern to the peace loving people of Batticaloa."